[meteorite-list] K/T Boundary Clay at Stevns Klint

[Paul H.]

In http://six.pairlist.net/pipermail/meteorite-list/2010-March/062190.html ,
(“K/T Boundary Clay”), Ed Majden wrote:

“There is some dispute with this material, as some 
think it may be of volcanic origin, rather than 
a meteorite impact, K/T boundary layer material”

The volcanic origin is an old hypothesis that has been 
largely abandoned. The Fish Clay at Klint now is largely 
regarded to consist of terrigenous sediments that 
accumulated in the absence of biogenic carbonate during 
the aftermath of the terminal Cretaceous impact. There 
is an extraterrestrial component that has been mixed with 
detrital terrestrial sediments by bioturbation and 
reworking and redeposition of pre-existing sediments.

For example, Premovi (2009) concluded:

1. “IIIA smectite is probably mainly detrital and 
redeposited from adjacent coastal and/or marine 
areas.”

2. “The goethite-/FeS2-rich microspherules of layer
IIIA were initially enriched in Fe-oxides which were
replaced by goethite or FeS2 during early diagenesis

and 3. “Most of the microspherules and glasses of 
layer IIIA are also probably detrital and simultaneously 
redeposited with the smectite.”

The Fish Clay contains goethite-rich microspherules.
Currently, are argued as being authigenic in origin and
unrelated to any Cretaceous-Paleogene ejecta. Premovi 
(2009) regards these microspherules to have been 
created by pseudomorphic replacement of FeS2 rich 
biogenic spherules.

Locality: Stevns Klint, Description of a Danish GeoSite
http://geosites.dk/lokaliteter/sjaelland/stevns_klint.html 

Some papers about this are:

Bauluz, B., D. R. Peacor, and W. C. Elliott, Coexisting 
Altered Glass and Fe-Ni Oxides at the Cretaceous-
Tertiary Boundary, Stevns Klint (Denmark): Direct 
Evidence of Meteorite Impact,” Earth Planet. Science 
Letters. vol. 182, pp. 127–136.

Christensen, L., S. Fregerslev, A. Simonsen, and
J. Thiede, 1973, Sedimentology and depositional 
environment of Lower Danian fish clay from Stevns 
Klint, Denmark. Bulletin of the geological Society 
of Denmark. vol. 22, pp. 193-212.
http://2dgf.dk/xpdf/bull22-03-193-212.pdf

Drits, V. A., H. Lindgreen, B. A. Sahaov, H. J. 
Jakonson, and B. B. Zviagina, 2004, The detailed 
structure and origin of clay minerals at the 
Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary, Stevns Klint (Denmark). 
Clay Minerals. vol. 39, no. 4, pp. 367-390; 
DOI: 10.1180/0009855043940141
http://claymin.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content/abstract/39/4/367
http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=16450276

Ekdale, A. A., and R. G. Bromley, 1984, Sedimentology 
and ichnology of the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in 
Denmark; implications for the causes of the terminal 
Cretaceous extinction. Journal of Sedimentary Research.
vol. 54, no. 3, p. 681-703
http://jsedres.sepmonline.org/cgi/content/abstract/54/3/681

Note: The above paper is a strong supporter of volcanic origin.

Hart, M. B., S. E. Feist, G. D. Price and M. J. Leng,
2004, Reappraisal of the K/T boundary succession at 
Stevns Klint, Denmark. Journal of the Geological 
Society. vol. 161, no. 5, pp. 885-892;
http://jgs.lyellcollection.org/cgi/content/abstract/161/5/885

Kastner, M., F. Asaro, H. V. Michel, W. Alvarez, 
and L. W. Alvarez, 1984, The Precursor of the 
Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary Clays at Stevns Klint, 
Denmark, and DSDP Hole 465A. Science. vol. 226. 
no. 4671, pp. 137-143 DOI: 10.1126/science.226.4671.137
http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/226/4671/137

“Formation from impact rather than from volcanic 
glass is supported by its major element chemistry.” 

Ortega-Huertas, M., F. Martinez-Ruiz, I. Palomo-Delgado,
and H. Camley, 2002, Review of the mineralogy of the 
Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary clay: evidence supporting 
a major extraterrestrial catastrophic event. Clay 
Minerals. vol. 37, no. 3, pp. 395-411; 
DOI: 10.1180/0009855023730054
http://claymin.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content/abstract/37/3/395

Premovi, P. I., 2004, Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary 
deposits in Denmark: A diachroneity. Journal Serbian 
Chemical Society. vol. 71, no.7, pp. 793-806.
http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0352-5139/2004/0352-51390407555P.pdf

Premovic, P. I., 2009, The conspicuous red “impact” 
layer of the Fish Clay at Højerup (Stevns Klint, 
Denmark). Geochemistry International. vol. 47, no. 5, 
pp. 513-521.
http://www.springerlink.com/content/2tq1551k02800715/

“Smectite of the red layer of the KPB section at 
Højerup is probably detrital and redeposited from 
adjacent coastal or marine areas. This clay mineral 
is likely mixed with a small amount of smectite 
derived from impact glasses. Most of the 
microspherules and nano-size glasses of the red 
layer at Hojerup are probably detrital and 
simultaneously redeposited with smectite.”

Premovi, P. I., B. Z. Todorovi, and M. S. Pavlovi, 
2007, Cretaceous  Paleogene boundary Fish Clay at 
Hojerup (Stevns Klint, Denmark): trace metals in 
kerogen. Bulletin de la Societe Geologique de France.
vol. 178, no. 5, p. 411-421; DOI: 10.2113/gssgfbull.178.5.411
http://bsgf.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content/abstract/178/5/411
http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0352-5139/2008/0352-51390804453P.pdf

Premovic, P. I.,  B. Z. Todorovic, and M. S. 
Pavlovic, 2008, Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary (KPB) 
Fish Clay at Hojerup (Stevns Klint, Denmark): Ni, Co, 
and Zn of the black marl Geologica Acta, vol. 6, 
no. 4, pp. 369-382. DOI: 10.1344/105.000000264
http://www.geologica-acta.com/pdf/vol0604a07.pdf

Premovi, P. I., M. M. Krsmanovic, B. Z. Todorovi, 
M. S. Palovi, N. D. Nikolic, and D. M. Djordjevi,
2006, Geochemistry of the Cretaceous-Tertiary 
boundary (Fish Clay) at Stevns Klint (Denmark): Ir, 
Ni and Zn in kerogen. Journal Serbian Chemical 
Society. vol. 71, no.7, pp. 793-806.
http://www.doiserbia.nb.rs/img/doi/0352-5139/2006/0352-51390607793P.pdf

Surlyk, F., T. Damholt, and M. Bjerager, 2006, Stevns Klint,
Denmark: Uppermost Maastrichtian Chalk, Cretaceous–
Tertiary Boundary, and Lower Danian Bryozoan Mound
Complex. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Denmark.
vol. 4, pp. 1–48.
http://2dgf.dk/xpdf/bull54.pdf

Yours,

Paul H.